New Mobile Health Tool Boosts HIV Medication Adherence by 2.9x, mScripts and Avella Reveal in IPO Filing

mscripts and Avella Specialty Pharmacy Identify Benefits of Mobile Medication Apps for HIV Patients

Recent analytical data released by Avella Specialty Pharmacy indicates that medication apps can help HIV patients improve medication adherence, thereby enabling better disease management. Furthermore, the analysis reveals that apps offering medication refill reminders, dosage alerts, and other prescription management features increased adherence among HIV patients by 2.9-fold.

Adherence to medication—taking it on time and at the correct dosage—is key to successful HIV treatment. Patient adherence must be maintained at 90% (i.e., taking medication continuously for 90 days) to achieve successful viral suppression; otherwise, the risk of treatment failure increases.

This study used the Proportion of Days Covered (PDC) to assess medication adherence among HIV patients taking single-source and multi-source formulations of Atripla® and Truvada®. The data showed that 79% of the 224 HIV patients using the mscripts app achieved adherence rates above 90%, whereas only 65% of the 1,896 HIV patients not using the app reached this threshold. This further indicates that the app can help improve patient adherence. Unfortunately, however, a 2014 report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) stated that only 30% of HIV-positive individuals in the United States had successfully achieved viral suppression. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the level of medication adherence is a decisive factor in the success of antiretroviral therapy. Low levels of medication adherence can lead to the development of drug resistance, resulting in treatment failure.

“Current HIV treatment regimens have reduced complexity. However, poor medication adherence remains a leading cause of HIV-related complications and mortality,” said Eric Sredzinski, Pharm.D., Executive Vice President of Clinical Affairs and Quality Engineer at Avella. “This new medical app represents another opportunity for Avella to provide comprehensive support to patients.”

New data show that the value of mobile health strategies lies in engaging patients and improving their medication adherence. Moreover, beyond improved medication adherence, HIV patients using Avella’s mscripts app had nearly a threefold reduction in the likelihood of discontinuing their medications.

Mark Cullen, CEO of Avella, stated, “Avella’s patient population demonstrates high adherence rates, comparable to those of the general population. We are delighted to see this platform empowering patients to make more significant changes.”

Headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona, Avella is a nationally accredited specialty pharmacy. Since 1996, the company has been providing patients with personalized treatment and support. Its clinical pharmacists and staff are experts in complex disease management, distinguished by their compassionate approach. In addition to its retail locations, Avella offers nationwide distribution services. The company was ranked #1,772 on Inc. magazine’s 2014 list of the 5,000 fastest-growing private companies in the United States. Furthermore, it received the Arizona Corporate Excellence (ACE) Award, which recognizes the largest private companies in Arizona with combined annual revenues exceeding $15 billion.

mscripts is an easy-to-use mobile and internet-based health management platform designed to improve patient adherence. The mscripts platform serves approximately 2.5 million patients worldwide, particularly within hospital outpatient systems. Patients typically manage their prescriptions through two mobile channels: SMS messages and a mobile application, which remind them to refill medications and take them on schedule. mscripts enhances adherence by providing refill reminders, educational resources, and medical information, while leveraging advanced data analytics to gain deeper insights into patient behavior.